Snooker
2024 English Open: Mark Allen Stuns John Higgins After His 1,000th Century Break Milestone
John Higgins hits 1,000th century but loses to Mark Allen at 2024 English Open.
At 49, John Higgins has once again made history, becoming only the second player to achieve 1,000 century breaks in snooker.
Higgins Falls Short Despite Making History
In his last-16 match at the 2024 English Open against Northern Ireland's top player, Mark Allen, the Scottish legend sealed the milestone with two century breaks of 108 and 105.
Only the greatest of all time, Ronnie O'Sullivan shares this remarkable achievement.
Unfortunately for the Wizard of Wishaw, it wasn’t enough to beat Allen, who exacted revenge following their recent classic at the World Championships in Sheffield, almost four months ago.
1000th Century Hit
Despite being downbeat after the loss, Higgins stood tall to acknowledge his accomplishment and even jokingly make a remark to world number one Judd Trump, who is also on the verge of the same milestone.
“I’ve played the game for so long now to get to that sort of milestone, you want to be proud of that,” Higgins told SportsBoom.com.
“I’m really proud. To be honest, I just wanted to get there before Judd [Trump]. I gave him a 14-year head start.”
“To be the second to do it after O’Sullivan, after the best ever. Judd will eventually eclipse even Ronnie’s record, but to finish my career with this record it’s good.”
Image credit: World Snooker Tour (WST)
The Pistol vs. The Wizard
Following the hard-fought victory, Allen also shared his immediate thoughts on sharing the table with one of the sport’s greats once again during the memorable moment.
“To make it 4-3, very dramatic for John to make the 1000th century, we don't really disappoint, do we? That’s just one of the many classics we’ve had, and there’s going to be a lot more close ones going forward,” Allen told SportsBoom.com.
“We get on really well, but even if we didn’t, id still have had to stand up and give applause because it’s a massive landmark. There are only two players to do it. I’m sure he was feeling the pressure on those last few balls. What a career he’s had.”
“He’s still treats me the same now at 38, as he did when I was 17. He’s always been the same guy, and will always be one of the all time greats.”
Back-to-back 147s in Alfreton
Away from the World Snooker Tour, the Northern Irishman recently made headline news after he shared an incredible video on social media of him hitting back-to-back 147s at an exhibition show in Alfreton.
Another insane achievement which has never been done in a professional competition.
“There’s obviously less pressure when you’re doing exhibitions, you’re able to relax more, but you still want to put on a show,” he added.
“I made the first 147 very well and I knew I was playing well, but I nearly messed up the second one and one of the first blacks. There can’t be too many people that can say they’ve hit back-to-back 147s in front of a crowd. I’ve hit back-to-back 147s in practise maybe six or seven times, but to do it in front of a crowd in any manner was special.”
Allen finished the interview sharing a humorous anecdote of how he celebrated the unique accomplishment.
“I had one Jägerbomb to celebrate the first one, then I had seven when I hit the second. I wasn’t even drinking, I just had like eight Jägerbombs and it was all part of a good night,” he concluded.
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